---
title: O.C.G.A. § 49-4-31. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 49-4-31
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 49-4-31 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-31
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-31.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/49-4-31/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t49-t50-ch1-12-(v38)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=60c992b5_0#page=91
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: SOCIAL SERVICES / PUBLIC ASSISTANCE / OLD-AGE ASSISTANCE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 49-4-31. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Applicant” means a person who has applied for assistance under this article.

(2) “Assistance” means money payments to, medical care in behalf of, or any type of remedial care recognized under state law in behalf of needy individuals who are 65 years of age or older but shall not include any such payments to or care in behalf of any individual who is a patient in an institution for tuberculosis or mental health or developmental disability services.

(3) “Medical institution” means an institution that is organized to provide medical, nursing, or convalescent care.

(4) “Public institution” means an institution that is the responsibility of a governmental unit or over which a governmental unit exercises administrative control.

(5) “Recipient” means a person who has received assistance under this article.

## History

Ga. L. 1937, p. 311, § 1; Ga. L. 1957, p. 368, § 1; Ga. L. 1962, p. 683, § 1; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 3-6/HB 228; Ga. L. 2018, p. 550, § 3-3/SB 407.